Grounded boat's load removed

UNALASKA - Rough weather has delayed the removal of fuel but not the rotting load from a grounded fishing boat on Unimak Island in the eastern Aleutians.

The American Star grounded Feb. 11 after a fire. A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued five crew members and a dog from the island's southern coast. No pollution has been reported.

It has taken a long time to lighter the fuel off the grounded boat because it has to be done by sling-load with a helicopter, said Dan Magone of Magone Marine Service, which has had a salvage vessel working on the scene.

``We've got 25,000 or 26,000 gallons of fuel we need to get off the boat. As soon as we do that, we can pull the boat off'' and tow it away, Magone said.

Nearly all of the 60,000-pound load of rotten cod was pumped overboard, however, where it dissolved in the surf, Magone said.